Helping the homeless: The Warmer Streets Project

Living in London, we’re faced with homelessness daily, to the point where we’re almost desensitised to it. The figures showed that 4,134 people slept rough across England on any given night in 2016 – a 16% increase compared to the previous year, and more than double the amount in 2010. A figure that could include any of us. Benefit cuts, increased rents, the housing crisis and increased migration, along with cuts in funding to vital services, mean that people sleeping rough has drastically increased.

So, I started The Warmer Streets Project in Autumn. Each £5 donated, provides a set of thermal Thinsulate gloves, a thermal Thinsulate hat, a pair of 2.3 tog thermal socks, and some additional snacks and toiletries. We also plan to make those who are dealing with homelessness aware of the services they can access, including where they can get a hot meal, clothing and a bed for the night. Our care packages aren’t a solution, that takes policy change, but we’re hoping to provide a small amount of support to those who are in a vulnerable position, living on our streets.